Rewriting the Rules (3 page)

“So back to my question, what are we doing? We live together and are building somewhat of a life together. Yes, I know you care about me and like me.” I nod while pouring myself another glass of whiskey. “You know I love you and want more, but we’re not on the same page.”

Falling in love isn’t something I want to experience again. Falling in love leaves you vulnerable. The emotions are too raw and fuck with your control on life. Instead of you being in the driver’s seat, navigating your way through life the way you want, love takes over and makes decisions for you.

I take a moment to think about what I can say to her so she’ll understand. I’ve been around love and happiness my whole life. My parents have been married for thirty years and to this day, still hold hands and look at each other with admiration. I know how to treat a woman and give her the world. “We’re having fun and we’re comfortable. We live together and are building a life, just not with rings and standing in a church telling our family and friends how we feel. This works, Andrea. I take you out on dates, and lavish you with gifts. We go on expensive trips around the world and I give you space to hang out with your friends. Like I said, this is all I can give you.”

“I want to grow old with you and spend my life with you,” she wipes her tears and I should feel bad. “I want us to get married and have kids.”

I don’t.

“You knew what you were getting into. I told you from the start I didn’t want marriage or that kind of commitment. I’m not sure what else you want me to say. I won’t be changing my mind.”

“Maybe I thought I’d be the one to change your mind,” she retreats into her hole and finishes her glass of wine. “I’m going to bed.” Without another word, she touches my shoulder, kisses my cheek, and walks upstairs.

Putting away our dishes, I shut off the lights, turn on the alarm system, and head upstairs. Walking into my bedroom, I find Andrea in bed lying on her side, staring at me. My cock blinks his eye then goes back to sleep. He has no interest in a meeting with her pussy.

“I’m going to be downstairs doing work,” I tell her. “Go to sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Seriously, Troy?” She groans and gets up. I see her naked body walking to the closet and in minutes she’s out, dressed in a short black dress with a bag in her hand. “I’m going out and then crashing at Liza’s house.”

“Okay.” I should breakup with her now and kick her out of my house. My father taught me how to be a gentleman and as much as I’d love to see the look on her face when I confront her with the truth, I honestly don’t have the energy to deal with the argument.

She nods and heads out of the bedroom. It’s almost eleven in the evening, and I should be worried my girlfriend is out and about. Only I’m not.

Heading back downstairs, I grab a glass of whiskey and walk outside to my deck, overlooking the in-ground pool and built-in waterfall. In every aspect of my life I’m in control. I’m in charge of my company that I have with Will, and have found my success because of my hard work, and support from my parents. They didn’t have to bribe Yale to get me in, or pay for a building to get me good grades. As rich as I am with material things, there’s something missing to make me full.

Sipping on my whiskey, I close my eyes and think about the last few years in Rochester. My booming fitness business is going on three years strong. My clients are not only local, but throughout the nation. I come up with their meal plan, make their food, package it, and ship it. Will does the same, and we are constantly attending conventions to promote our growing business. All of my energy is for my clients and the words
fun
and
relaxing
don’t exist. Owning my business means I handle all the issues. I don’t count on anyone else. Will and I meet once a week to talk about our sales, clients, and how else to make our business grow as a team and individually. Our business is successful because we are in control. Everything is about control. When you lose it you might as well kiss everything goodbye. No one can get through life without having a grasp on their life and what they want. You set a goal and you fucking do anything you can to reach your goal. No excuses.

Finishing my whiskey, I realize how alone I am. It’s nights like these I despise. My mind wanders and plays hide and seek with thoughts I’ve kept buried. It looks for these issues and puts me in a shittier mood than I’ve been in. When I was younger I had my parents or friends around me. Now I keep my circle small. I’ve been screwed over too many times.

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I scroll through my contact list and think about texting Will. He’s most likely home, cooking for clients, and my parents are vacationing in Europe. I have acquaintances, but only a handful of good friends I’ve let into my life. As we get older, it’s not the quantity of friends, but the quality. I don’t give a shit if I sound like a pussy. It’s the truth. When you have a lot of friends, the chances to get screwed over is real.

The doorbell rings and I look up, wondering who’s at the door. Pushing myself up from the chair outside I head through the kitchen and to the foyer. Reaching over to grab the doorknob, I twist it to open and blink a few times to make sure I’m seeing correctly.

“Hi, Troy.”

Chapter 3

Troy

Nothing prepares you for when you’re faced with the past. As hard and cold as I am, I’m nearly on my ass when I see her. I blink some more and instead of a twenty-five-year-old man, I’m brought to my eighteen-year-old self and the girl I love is standing before me.

My dick smiles and wakes up from a dreary nap. Fucking bastard decides now is the best time to be active. Not tonight, buddy. Not tonight. I do my best to think about anything that’ll calm down my raging hard-on.

She’s really looking at me and a smile comes across her face. It’s the same smile I remember all those years ago. The smile that brings me to my knees and makes everything stop moving. I pause for a moment before saying something to her. The girl standing before me is a ghost from the past. I knew her. She was my first love, until I didn’t know her anymore. She has no idea what she’s doing to me.

When I don’t smile back she flinches slightly. Watching her closely I see her smile slowly disappearing. The lost expression on her face shows and she nervously shuffles her feet.

“Troy,” she calls for me again.

“Come in,” I tell her and watch as she walks in. My eyes go directly to her long blonde hair, curvy body, and beautiful ass. Her legs are toned, and those tanned legs go on for miles. I’m imagining her legs wrapped around my waist while I fuck her until she screams. The dress she has on hugs every delicious curve of her body. Damn, do I want her. “Charlotte.” Saying her name is doing things to my body. I control my feelings and turn on my hardened stare. I remind myself this is the girl who ripped my heart out and took it with her. Feeling sorry for her or happy she’s here isn’t an option.

Closing the door, I stand before her and notice how much of an adult she looks like now. I also notice the sadness and fear in her eyes. The overwhelming feeling to hold her and comfort her pushes through. Quickly, I bury those feelings and keep a neutral expression on my face.

Needing to say something, I ask her the first thing that comes to my mind. “Are you hungry?” Her head pops up and she slowly smiles, giving me a nod. Leading her to my kitchen, I pull out a chair for her and take out containers of food. “I have chicken, if that’s okay?”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

I smile, nod, and prepare her a plate. Staring at the leftovers from dinner, I assume she’ll like it, not necessarily caring what she likes or doesn’t like. Turning to look at her, I see her eyes on me and the emotions on her face. It’s pulling on my conscience, so I push it away. I’m not letting my guard down when it comes to Charlotte.

Pulling out my phone, I’m about to text Will until I hear her telling me to stop.

“Please don’t tell my brother,” she asks me.

“Why? He needs to know you’re here.”

“I just,” she pauses, covering her face and running her fingers through her long hair. “I just need a few days to let everything sink in. I know I’m here out of the blue, but I need a few days and I didn’t know where else to go.”

“You’re fine, Charlotte,” I pause and turn around to face her. “I’m not going to kick you out of my house, but I can’t let you stay here and keep this from Will. He should know. He’s your brother. You can’t come to Rochester without an explanation.”

“I know,” she sighs. Getting up from the chair, she paces the kitchen. “All I can say is that I’m okay and I’m going to be living here now. A lot has been going on and I’ve missed you guys.”

“Not good enough. The last I heard was that you landed a good job in Michigan.”

I study her body language and the way she’s staring at me. She looks surprised I knew that little fact about her. Seeing her here, in my house, in my kitchen, is fucking with my head. This isn’t a random situation. She’s here for a reason and it’s a reason I need to find out.

The promise we made to each other creeps into my head. I remembered her words and how she felt in my arms.

“We can’t tell Will.”

“I know,” I assure her, rubbing her arms and pulling her to my body. “I’m not going to pressure you. I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. You’re going to be a star on the field and kill each class. I’m going to wait for you and the day you’re ready to tell Will about us then that’s the day I’ll kiss you and love you forever.”

“I’ll be thinking about that kiss until the time’s right. I promise as soon as I’m done with school we’ll tell him together. He’ll have to see how happy you make me.” She lifts her head from my chest and leans to kiss the tip of my nose. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

She was my world until it came shattering down and I was left without her. The broken promise fell through my fingers and there was nothing. That day I vowed never to allow love to be near me. I was going to be happier on my own without her. I knew it was wrong. She was my best friend’s baby sister. I teased her when she was younger, made her cry, and then fell in love. Our friendship took its own course and I never saw it coming-the day we admitted our feelings.

Will had no idea and to this day still doesn’t know the feelings I hold for her. Our relationship ended before it began. It had to be that way, even if she took a piece of my heart with her, I had to forget her and move on.

“Once upon a time you used to care and take care of me. Remember?”

“Once upon a time I would have done anything for you. Things change, Charlotte.”

“I guess so.” She crosses her arms over her chest and her breasts slightly rise, the swells catching my attention.

“So how did you know where to find me?”

“Will sent me your address one Christmas so I could send you a card.”

“I never got a card from you.”

“I know,” she responds, still holding her eyes on me. “I didn’t get a chance to send you the cards or letters.”

“Why’s that?”

She shrugs and doesn’t respond right away. Her mind is reeling, trying to come up with an excuse, and I can’t figure out what she’ll say.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it would matter.”

“I’m not sure why you would have thought that. It would have been nice to hear from you and know how you’re doing. It’s been four years, Charlotte. You can’t pop back into my life and expect me to be okay with this. What happened with Shawn?”

“I broke up with him.”

A look of shock plasters on my face. From what I’ve heard, they were on the way to getting married. “I thought you were happy and in love.”

“Things changed. I never really loved him. I did it for Will . . . to make him happy.”

“You can’t always do everything for your brother.”

“He gave up his life for me. He could have been playing soccer in Europe and made a career out of it. I held him back.”

The ding goes off and I take the plate of food over to her. “Wine?” She nods and I grab an open bottle of red wine and pour her a glass. I need to figure out a plan for Charlotte, and fast. Making her leave with nowhere to go isn’t an option. If Will finds out Charlotte came to me and I dismissed her, he’ll kick my ass. I have respect for him, so I’ll treat her nicely.

“I get it,” I mutter and sit down at the kitchen table with her.

“I need to lay low for a few days. Unless you want to go tell on me to my big bad brother.”

“No need to get smart, little one. Just answer a few questions.” She nods. “Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?” She shakes her head. “Okay. You can stay here for a few days and then you’re telling Will.”

I don’t push her to tell me more. I’m not usually this big of an asshole around people I care about. The problem with Charlotte is too many years have passed by and I don’t know who she is anymore. I don’t want her thinking she can count on me or expect a shoulder to cry on. She needs to stay far away because I’m not someone that can be trusted with her. Even though she was someone I loved and cared about before, seeing her now is only causing the feeling of betrayal and regret to reignite.

Watching her eat, I notice she’s free of makeup and still looks beautiful, but I can see the creases on her forehead from worry and the dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep. Her shoulders are sagging and the tight grip she has on the fork and knife leaves me to think she’s holding a secret, possibly several secrets.

Charlotte doesn’t pick up and leave without a reason or plan. Regardless of what’s going on, it doesn’t involve me and I can’t get mixed up with her.

I drink the glass of wine I poured and sit back watching her. It seems like my looks are being unanswered or she’s staying away and not pushing me. Good girl. Even so, seeing her before me is making my dick twitch again and my heart is beating too damn fast. As much as she’s changed and grown up, she’s still my Charlotte. The girl I first knew is now a sexy and beautiful woman waiting for me to make my move.